46 



The "Day's Ploughing." 



Vol. VII. 



and gives respectability to their calling-, 

 whatever it may be. 



Let none mistake me, and suppose I would 

 plead for a false economy, that would save 

 at the spigot and waste at the bung. Such, 

 for instance, as raising poor stock, when 

 good might just as easily be had ; keeping 

 on hand miserable tools, that murder the bu- 

 siness and cause more delay in the using, 

 than the difference of price between them 

 and good ones: or in taking up the idea, that 

 we can't afford, these hard times, to take an 

 agricultural paper ! No, no, I advocate no 

 such mismanagement; I hold that good 

 stock and goal tools, are cheaper than poor 

 ones ; and that no implement on the farm, 

 of ten times its cost, will more conduce to 

 the farmer's interest, than a good agricul- 

 tural paper — the Cabinet for instance. I 

 plead for such a care in our expenditures, 

 as will restrain us within our means — a care 

 that will limit us to the necessaries and 

 comforts of life, until we can really afford 

 its luxuries. A Learning Farmer. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 The "Day's Ploughing." 



Mr. Pedder, — On receiving the three 

 last numbers of the Cabinet, I did not even 

 wait to stitch them, in my anxiety to see the 

 account of the " day's ploughing," of which 

 notice was given in the Cabinet for April, 

 page 294. At first I supposed the silence 

 of the Cabinet to be in consequence of the 

 committee not having made their report; 

 but so much time having gone by, and no- 

 thing said, I begin to fear that the plough- 

 ing match has again proved a failure. I 

 shall feel myself obliged if you will inform 

 me by letter, or through the pages of the 

 Cabinet, if you think proper, concerning the 

 " day's ploughing ;" giving your opinion of the 

 merits of the " centre draught plough" as 

 I wish to procure a plough suitable for turn- 

 ing under a crop of clover preparatory to 

 sowing wheat Some with whom I have 

 conversed concerning this plough, object to 

 it on account of its taming the furrow flat, 

 believing that the soil will lay too dead and 

 heavy to bring good crops; but I shod 1 like 

 to know your opinion concerning that mat- 

 ter. I had made up my mind to obtain 

 one, but the silence concerning that "dav's 

 ploughing," has somewhat shaken my reso- 

 lution. A plough much in use in this part 

 of the country, is patented by Wiley, of this 

 (Chester) county, which answers very well 

 for stubble land, but is not well calculated 

 for turning sod, as it breaks the furrow-.-! ice. 

 pitching it forward, and leaving the land in 



a very rough, uneven state. Another plough, 

 which is much used for sod, is a barshare 

 plough, made altogether of wrought iron, 

 except the mould plate, which does good 

 work, laying the edge of the furrow-slice 

 on the one which preceded it; but requires 

 great strength of team. Another plough, 

 which is used for all kinds of land, is a bar- 

 share plough, known as the Sleicart plough, 

 being made by two brothers of that name, 

 and is, I believe, the best in this part of the 

 country. 



With best wishes for the success of the 

 paper of which you are editor, and by which 

 I have been benefitted the subscription price 

 many times told, I subscribe myself, your 

 friend, John Chalfant. 



McWilliamatown, Pa., Aug. 5, 1542. 



To Mr. John Chalfant, — Sir, your fa- 

 vour I received in due course, and would 

 have answered it immediately, but for the 

 wish to have it in my power to speak more 

 decidedly on the subject of its contents. 



The "day's ploughing," did not "come 

 off" in the way that had been anticipated ; 

 and for the following reasons, which are 

 strictly facts. In the first place, the ploughs 

 made expressly for that day's trial at the 

 manufactory in Boston, were constructed 

 after a new pattern, which enhances their 

 value four-fold; namely, with a shifting 

 point and wing, which, simply by turning a 

 single screw, can be reversed in a moment, 

 thus forming a self-sharpening instrument. 

 But this alteration threw them out of going 

 trim, creating a bias towards the furrow; 

 and as this contingency was unforeseen and 

 unexpected, the precaution to test them at 

 the manufactory was neglected ; they were 

 despatched in that state, and arrived in Phi- 

 ladelphia but just in time for trial, on land 

 very unsuitable for the purpose; very wet 

 from continual rains, part fallow and part 

 sod in the length of every furrow ; so that 

 the plough when set for turning sod, was 

 not the most suitable for turning fallow; 

 when they were found not to operate so 

 well as their sanguine friends, myself among 

 the number, had anticipated. The fact is, 

 in their then state, they required guiding ; 

 and if a centre draught plough will not go 

 alone, it is not set right in some of its parts. 

 The trial, therefore, as has been said, was 

 not satisfactory; but as the cause of the fail- 

 ure was at once perceived, and admitted of 

 being easily rectified, no report was made 

 by the committee at the time, and the ploughs 

 were sent back to be adjusted. But before 

 this was done, one of them was taken to the 

 farm of Mr. B. Cooper, of Jersey, that an 



